The Crawford Street home in which the Civil War defense of Vicksburg was planned has opened to the public but for the first time as a permanent asset of the National Park Service.

Pemberton's Headquarters, also known as the Willis-Cowan House, remains a work in progress - but will be open on Mondays from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. in June and July.

The home, where Confederate Gen. John C. Pemberton also made the decision to surrender Vicksburg to Gen. Ulysses S. Grant in July 1863, was a private home before, during and for many years after the war. It was purchased for federal preservation in 2003 and will be operated by the Vicksburg National Military Park.